So I tried looking for a thread for this category and couldn’t find one.

I am so conflicted about this category. Alexis Bledel seems like the frontrunner, but I’m not convinced about her chances because Dowd might split votes here (even though she’s actually nominated for another show). There are so many cases that can be made for everyone except for Purser.

Currently I’m predicting Cox because I feel like with the Transgender community being under attack recently, it might be difficult to not vote for her here. She also benefits from the new voting system that rewards passion vote.

But then I wonder if Wright could get more votes because of Feud and end up surprising? And you can never count out Tyson.

I would say this is anyone’s game except for Purser and Tyson. Bledel is apparently the best, but I haven’t seen any of The Handmaid’s Tale past the fourth episode. And you made a good point saying that Bledel and Dowd might split. Dowd has the entire weight of The Leftovers on her shoulders and it could be that she wins because of how overdue The Leftovers is. Cox is a definite contender but I’m unsure of how well she will do or how accepting the Emmys really are. Wright has had a good year with The Americans and Feud, and could get through pretty easy because of face recognition (if that’s a thing). Purser got in because of sweep mentality and Tyson isn’t likely to get an Emmy for HTGAWM’s third season.

I think I’m picking Dowd. I don’t know why she would split votes just because she’s nominated in another category. She probably won’t be getting many votes there anyways. Of course, picking her may just be my leftovers bias. Bledel was great but if the last few years tell us anything, this category is more likely going to go to the beloved veteran. For that reason, we can’t count out Tyson. She’s very much beloved, and has received a lot of acclaim for her role. She’s definitely in this race. I can’t really see Wright winning, I would love it if she did though. The Americans just isn’t that big of a show, and Wright doesn’t have the recognition and respect that Martindale did.

Since we know the Academy or the industry just isn’t watching the Leftovers at all, the only way I see her winning is if she gets votes here for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale. I don’t see her getting the Margo veteran vote because those votes would most probably go to Tyson instead. As such, her being nominated in another category is a double edged sword.

The voters could either vote for her here because they decide to vote for someone else, say Brown or Newton, in supporting (remember, they’ll be voting for all these categories at the same time). That could end up hurting Bledel. Or the voters could choose to not vote for her here because they decide to vote for her in Supporting.

That’s how I’m choosing to look at Dowd in this category, effectively as a nominee for Handmaid’s and not The Leftovers. There maybe some who actually saw her in The Leftovers, but the fact that that show has no other nominations makes me think otherwise.

I hope the people who vote on this category at least take the time to watch these episodes. That’s the whole point of this category. No one should even get consideration for other episodes they were in during the season. I watched them and the top four are very close but this is how I would rank them:

1. Tyson
2. Dowd
3. Bledel
4. Cox

Wright and Purser are barely in their episodes and shouldn’t have been nominated. There are so many pros and cons for the top four, anyone could win but I think Tyson will get enough votes to send her above the rest.

Cox would win before Dowd. Both shows have passionate fan bases that resulted in them entrinnt nominated, but The Leftovers has no support. Cox is a former nominee in that category
and at least the show was a hit with the academy at one point.

That being said. I don’t see Bledel losing. The show was huge and nobody would stop talking about her performance.

I have Purser in fourth. She’d be a terrible winner but the academy obviously loves Stranger Things and I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a sweep.

I disagree. I believe the voters nominated Tuson not because of her performance but because the category was weak so they name checked her. I personally loved Cox’s performance and I am rooting for her to win.

I would say this is anyone’s game except for Purser and Tyson. Bledel is apparently the best, but I haven’t seen any of The Handmaid’s Tale past the fourth episode. And you made a good point saying that Bledel and Dowd might split. Dowd has the entire weight of The Leftovers on her shoulders and it could be that she wins because of how overdue The Leftovers is. Cox is a definite contender but I’m unsure of how well she will do or how accepting the Emmys really are. Wright has had a good year with The Americans and Feud, and could get through pretty easy because of face recognition (if that’s a thing). Purser got in because of sweep mentality and Tyson isn’t likely to get an Emmy for HTGAWM’s third season.

I disagree with this, if voters had sweep mentality for Stranger Things then Winona Ryder wouldn’t have been snubbed. Purser got in for delivering a memorable performance and for being a fan favorite and internet phenomenon. I don’t think people should discount her for the win. I think she would win before Wright or Tyson, maybe even Dowd. If she can get nominated she could win, and it doesnt hurt that her show is a Drama Series frontrunner.